In the day and age we live in, in the current State of Our Union it’s very hard to have empathy for a stranger and human kindness isn’t flowing...September 2017 I was at a point in my life where regardless of how hard I attempted to be a decent human being other people’s choices and ramifications continually and unceremoniously invaded my EVERYTHING. Who would of thought that one news story could have such an affect on not only my family but countless others as well...
I’ll never forget I was in the family room at Eboni’s house making sure that J.J. didn’t keep turning the television on and off. The news was on. Delaware and Philly are neighbors like the Ricardo’s and the Mertz’s. That night the only thing I saw was the car and the crime scene. I really wasn’t paying attention my thoughts were elsewhere. My cousins baby shower was coming up and had been switched from Saturday to Sunday to accommodate my new schedule as I am a Godmother and I was disgusted.
The next day I believe it was Yahoo news on my old phone that ran the story. Jermaine Jr. and I were on our way home and he was asleep in my arms. The picture of Kristen being comforted by her neighbors the next morning was what I saw. As a hearing impaired person I “SEE” what others may not pick up. I rely on my sight to convey what others may hear. I will see a dog running at me before you can hear it bark. That saved my baby and I from harm in the past. I saw a woman completely and utterly broken. I saw a Caucasian woman being cradled by an kind and loving African-American woman. I saw a strapping, handsome and mature African-American man with silent tears who had aged so much in the past twelve hours. I saw a community in shock, hurt and dazed. It was sad.
After I read the story about how Gerry was tragically killed in front of his home in a carjacking gone horrifically wrong trying to save his oldest daughter I cried. I cried because my Daddy would of done the same thing for me. I shared with David what happened to him and he was sad as well because this was so messed up on so many levels.
I reached out to Kristen on social media to offer my condolences. I told her MY Story and what I had been through in my life and to count her blessings and not her burdens. That I didn’t know WHY it happened and that it was one of the saddest things that ever could of happened and grieve YES but you cannot let it consume you because your babies need you. Her Flowers Rose and Violet continue to bloom. That she was blessed to have him as her partner and that the best thing she could do to honor his memory was to be the best Mother to his babies she possibly can. To make sure that she gets justice for him. To be the Virtuous Woman that he loved and adored. That he is at peace because he knew his kids will he alright. I even told some jokes because I wanted her to laugh a little.
A few days passed and she responded back to me. It’s nothing like my gender to uplift each other. I wanted to share my story with her not for her to pity me but for her to KNOW that no one pity’s her. I’m deaf and raise my baby by myself my oldest is grown. If I can do it anyone can. David and I received bracelets from the Grandzol family honoring Gerry’s life. He wears his every day. I put mine up for Jermaine.
When you learn about Gerald Grandzol you know the things that are being said aren’t just the polite things you say about someone when they pass away. He was a great person. They existed my Mother was one of them as well. Everyone that encountered them came away feeling better from the experience. I like to believe they sit in a corner of Heaven together wearing crazy socks and cute sneakers, smiling, happy and at peace that the four children between us are healthy and happy and that Kristin and I are living for them.
I’ll never forget I was in the family room at Eboni’s house making sure that J.J. didn’t keep turning the television on and off. The news was on. Delaware and Philly are neighbors like the Ricardo’s and the Mertz’s. That night the only thing I saw was the car and the crime scene. I really wasn’t paying attention my thoughts were elsewhere. My cousins baby shower was coming up and had been switched from Saturday to Sunday to accommodate my new schedule as I am a Godmother and I was disgusted.
The next day I believe it was Yahoo news on my old phone that ran the story. Jermaine Jr. and I were on our way home and he was asleep in my arms. The picture of Kristen being comforted by her neighbors the next morning was what I saw. As a hearing impaired person I “SEE” what others may not pick up. I rely on my sight to convey what others may hear. I will see a dog running at me before you can hear it bark. That saved my baby and I from harm in the past. I saw a woman completely and utterly broken. I saw a Caucasian woman being cradled by an kind and loving African-American woman. I saw a strapping, handsome and mature African-American man with silent tears who had aged so much in the past twelve hours. I saw a community in shock, hurt and dazed. It was sad.
After I read the story about how Gerry was tragically killed in front of his home in a carjacking gone horrifically wrong trying to save his oldest daughter I cried. I cried because my Daddy would of done the same thing for me. I shared with David what happened to him and he was sad as well because this was so messed up on so many levels.
I reached out to Kristen on social media to offer my condolences. I told her MY Story and what I had been through in my life and to count her blessings and not her burdens. That I didn’t know WHY it happened and that it was one of the saddest things that ever could of happened and grieve YES but you cannot let it consume you because your babies need you. Her Flowers Rose and Violet continue to bloom. That she was blessed to have him as her partner and that the best thing she could do to honor his memory was to be the best Mother to his babies she possibly can. To make sure that she gets justice for him. To be the Virtuous Woman that he loved and adored. That he is at peace because he knew his kids will he alright. I even told some jokes because I wanted her to laugh a little.
A few days passed and she responded back to me. It’s nothing like my gender to uplift each other. I wanted to share my story with her not for her to pity me but for her to KNOW that no one pity’s her. I’m deaf and raise my baby by myself my oldest is grown. If I can do it anyone can. David and I received bracelets from the Grandzol family honoring Gerry’s life. He wears his every day. I put mine up for Jermaine.
When you learn about Gerald Grandzol you know the things that are being said aren’t just the polite things you say about someone when they pass away. He was a great person. They existed my Mother was one of them as well. Everyone that encountered them came away feeling better from the experience. I like to believe they sit in a corner of Heaven together wearing crazy socks and cute sneakers, smiling, happy and at peace that the four children between us are healthy and happy and that Kristin and I are living for them.
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